Teething Remedies

Deep breaths, guys. Between the sleep deprivation, clogged ducts, and projectile vomit, teething is one of the hardest parts of the first year with a baby. Apparently, some babies show no signs or symptoms of cutting teeth. Neither of my babies have been so lucky. My oldest started teething at 4 months and cut his first tooth at 7.5 months. (He then cut teeth 2, 3, and 4 within 24 hours of each other.) My current baby has been actively teething* for almost 4 straight months now and still hasn’t had her first cut through her gums.

Mesh/Silicone teether. Depending on your baby and their age, you can fill these feeders with a large assortment of things. Frozen fruit, ice cubes, frozen breastmilk or formula cubes, or frozen baby food all make great options. Mesh | Silicone

Hard foods. If your baby is old enough, offering large slices or sticks of hard foods can be great to gnaw on. Apples, cucumbers, carrots, or melons are all great options.

Over the counter medicine. Be sure to consult your baby’s doctor first, but offering an over the counter remedy could help ease their pain. There are many options, and it’s all up to your comfort level, but tablets, gels, and plain old medicine are out there.

Teething necklace. There are two different kinds of teething necklaces – one baby wears and one mom wears. An amber teething necklace is made for baby to wear (NOT chewed), and it is thought that amber helps with inflammation and pain. A teething necklace that mom wears is made of silicone and is meant for baby to chew on.

Go outside. Sometimes, when all else fails, I bring my daughter outside. The change of scenery can at least temporarily help her focus on something other than the pain. Even if it’s nothing more than walking around the driveway for a few minutes, it’s better than nothing. And I’m a huge believer that everyone benefits from fresh air!

Nurse (for comfort) If you are able to nurse, try! Comfort nursing can be extremely beneficial to help, well, comfort your baby. If nothing else, snuggle your baby!

Tom and Lauren Tate met each other in college and fell in love (there may or may not have been alcohol involved). Years later, they got married, had a baby and now live happily in Southeastern PA with their little boy. Lauren manages the home, while Tom manages projects at a software company. While their interests range from cooking and working out (her) and playing guitar and video games (him), together they manage to maintain a blog, Little Old Home (www.littleoldhome.com).